Later, Judith finds Athelstan again and asks to confess to him as her regular confessor is not available. She kisses them before being interrupted by Æthelwulf, who is heading into battle with Ragnar and their men to reclaim Mercia. Judith grabs his hand anyways and sees the scars. A flustered Athelstan does not want to show her his scars or let her kiss him, even if it is just on the hand. She intentionally seeks him out, asking to kiss his hand, saying that she was told that he was crucified and that the marks are still there. Judith develops a potentially dangerous crush on Athelstan. Though a dutiful wife, Judith is much more interested in Athelstan, the monk who accompanies Ragnar Lothbrok on peace negotiations between Ecbert and the Vikings.
While not particularly happy about the marriage, they don't seem that displeased with it, as both grew up knowing that they would most likely marry for political reasons and not love.Ībout a year has passed since Judith and Æthelwulf married, and Judith has given birth to a son, Æthelred. Throughout these events, Judith and Æthelwulf are merely pawns in their fathers' plans. King Ecbert then suggests that Judith and his son Æthelwulf marry to form a stronger alliance. King Ælle is wary of the agreement because there is nothing to stop Ecbert from taking over his own, smaller kingdom. Ælle and Ecbert agreed that each kingdom would send troops to help defend the other, should the Northmen attack again. He died in October 899 AD and was buried at his capital city of Winchester.Judith accompanies her parents, King Ælle and Queen Ealhswith, who have accepted an invitation to form an alliance with King Ecbert of Wessex, who seeks help resisting the advances of the invading Vikings. He then arranged, and himself took part in, the translation of books from Latin to Anglo-Saxon.īy the 890s, Alfred's charters and coinage were referring to him as 'king of the English'. He had a strong belief in the importance of education and learnt Latin in his late thirties.
#KING ALFRED VIKINGS GIFS CODE#
He also established a navy for use against the Danish raiders who continued to harass the coast.Īs an administrator Alfred advocated justice and order and established a code of laws and a reformed coinage.
#KING ALFRED VIKINGS GIFS SERIES#
He reorganised his army and built a series of well-defended settlements across southern England. Alfred therefore gained control of areas of West Mercia and Kent which had been beyond the boundaries of Wessex.Īlfred built up the defences of his kingdom to ensure that it was not threatened by the Danes again. England was divided, with the north and the east (between the Rivers Thames and Tees) declared to be Danish territory - later known as the 'Danelaw'. In 886 AD, Alfred negotiated a treaty with the Danes. They made peace and Guthrum, their king, was baptised with Alfred as his sponsor. In 878 AD, he again defeated the Danes in the Battle of Edington. Despite his success at Ashdown, the Danes continued to devastate Wessex and Alfred was forced to withdraw to the Somerset marshes, where he continued guerrilla warfare against his enemies. The following year, he succeeded his brother as king. In 871 AD, Alfred defeated the Danes at the Battle of Ashdown in Berkshire. In 870 AD the Danes attacked the only remaining independent Anglo-Saxon kingdom, Wessex, whose forces were commanded by Alfred's older brother, King Aethelred, and Alfred himself.
At a time when the country was under threat from Danish raids, this was aimed at preventing a child inheriting the throne with the related weaknesses in leadership. Following the wishes of their father, the sons succeeded to the kingship in turn. He is the only English monarch known as 'the Great'.Īlfred was born at Wantage in Oxfordshire in 849, fourth or fifth son of Aethelwulf, king of the West Saxons. © King of the southern Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex and one of the outstanding figures of English history, as much for his social and educational reforms as for his military successes against the Danes.
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